The answer is because if it had worked, even if New England scored a touchdown and a successful two point conversation, the Patriots would still have to recover an onside kick and attempt a field goal, all with under four minutes on the clock.

The New England Patriots are headed to the AFC Championship game yet again, this time the team is taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers at home in the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium unlike past year where the team had to travel to Denver to face the Broncos, a game in which they got overmatched.

The Patriots have Tom Brady, though.

"They're the dragon, " Roethlisberger said. "I don't care if it's the first week of the season or this playoff game, I go out there and have fun, and try to do the best I could do". Brady owns a career 113.7 passer rating against the Steelers and Pittsburgh defensive scheme hasn't really changed over time.

Playing against Brady seemingly brings out the best in Roethlisberger.

Burns tied for the team lead with three interceptions in the regular season but hasn't had one in the past three weeks.

For years, the narrative in the AFC was Brady versus Peyton Manning - and for good reason.

Coincidentally, the New York Post also went with a Star Wars theme before the Jets played the Patriots in the playoffs following the 2010 season.

But Roethlisberger is no stranger to the big game, either.

When Tom Brady scans the Steelers' defense during Sunday's AFC Championship, chances are he is going to zoom in on a couple of rookies in the secondary and attack. I expect this game to be a competitive one as well, but I'll take the Patriots. Amazingly, although both teams have been perennial playoff teams, they have managed to avoid each other for over a decade in the postseason. The Packers are here for the second time in three years and the third time since 2010.

With a spot in Super Bowl LI on the line, the Patriots chose to activate wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell and deactivate Floyd, who struggled in New England's divisional-round playoff victory over the Houston Texans last Saturday. "They made me make some mistakes", Roethlisberger said of his memories of that game.

Keep a low profile, and let's get ready to ball like this up again here in a few days and be right back at it.

"That would be big", he said.

"This is why you play the game". "We're all well aware (Pittsburgh has) a great quarterback leading the way, so it'll be a great test for us". He's just been a very great player and the respect is very mutual. Not to mention the problems LaGarrette Blount's physical running style creates, or the play-making ability of WR Julian Edelman.

The two have a mutual respect for the other's game and accomplishments.

The Steelers, who lost to the Patriots in Week 7, have quietly won nine straight games.

"I don't think I need to speak much". He (Brady) deserves all the credit he gets.

"Yeah, I'm aware of that", Davis said. We're not playing tennis. "I swear to you guys". At the quarterback position, you get used to it - a lot of talk quarterback vs. quarterback. "It's the championship game". These are the games you want to be in, against the talent you want to see, to move on at this level. Like I said, you are going up to the lion's den, the dragon's lair.